West Ham United 1-0 Silkeborg: Manuel Lanzini's penalty earns Hammers place in last 16
By Neil Johnston BBC Sport
Date published 27 October 2022

THU 27 Oct 2022Europa Conference League - Group B
West Ham United 1 Lanzini (24' minutes pen)
Silkeborg IF 0
FTHT 1-0

West Ham have won eight of their last 11 games in all competitions. West Ham sealed a place in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League after defeating Silkeborg to maintain their 100% winning record in Europe this season.

Manuel Lanzini's penalty, after Michail Antonio was brought down by keeper Nicolai Larsen, ensured the Hammers qualified with one game to spare.

Last season's Europa League semi-finalists dominated with Algeria winger Said Benrahma and Spain midfielder Pablo Fornals both going close to extending the lead against the Danish visitors.

West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola was forced into a fine save to keep out Soren Tengstedt in the second half. With one round of games to go, David Moyes' side cannot be caught at the top of Group B. They have 15 points from five games, nine more than second-placed Silkeborg.

West Ham's final group game is away to FCSB, who are bottom of the group on two points, in Romania on 3 November (20:00 GMT). At the same time, Silkeborg entertain third-placed Anderlecht, who have five points.

Having started the season with three successive Premier League defeats, West Ham's campaign is gathering momentum. This was their second success at London Stadium this week after Monday's Premier League success against Bournemouth, while they have five wins out of five in the group. In addition, the Hammers have won three of their past five Premier League games before Moyes' return to his former club Manchester United on Sunday (16:15 GMT).

If the manager could have any complaints about this latest win, it was that they should have won by a more handsome margin.

The Hammers registered 15 attempts, five on target. Yet they had to rely on another penalty to secure maximum points, Lanzini beating the keeper for pace and power from the spot. It was West Ham's 10th goal of the group stage - three of them have come from the spot. West Ham are nine points clear at the top of Group B.

The last-16 draw for the Europa Conference League is on 24 February 2023, with the first leg on 9 March followed by the second leg a week later

It was job done for the hosts on a night fans got a first look at Nayef Aguerd in competitive action in a Hammers shirt. The Morocco defender suffered a serious ankle injury in pre-season soon after signing from Rennes for £30m in the summer. Aguerd received a warm reception when he was replaced after 76 minutes by Thilo Kehrer.

"He's a good athlete, but he's had no match practice," said Moyes. "The game worked out very well for him. I didn't tell him he was starting until today. "It was a really good opening game for him."

Moyes will now be in a position to rest key players for the trip to Romania next week before the London derby at home to Crystal Palace three days later on 6 November (14:00 GMT).

Player of the match Saïd Benrahma
Ratings 22 Benrahma 8.10; 32 Coventry 7.90; 27 Aguerd 7.85; 10 Lanzini 7.65; 21 Ogbonna 7.53; 5 Coufal 7.48; 12 Downes 7.40; 13 Areola 7.38; 8 Fornals 7.36; 9 Antonio 7.35; 33 Emerson 7.35; 2 Johnson 7.32; 7 Scamacca 7.21; 41 Rice 7.10; 24 Kehrer 6.64; 28 Soucek 6.54

Daily Mail: MATCH FACTS
West Ham (3-4-1-2): Areola 7.5; Johnson 7, Aguerd 8 (Kehrer 76), Ogbonna 7; Coufal 7, Coventry 7 (Rice 83), Lanzini 7, Emerson 7; Fornals 6.5 (Downes 68, 6); Benrahma 6.5 (Scamacca 68, 6), Antonio 6.5 (Soucek 83)
Subs (not used): Randolph, Hegyi, Cresswell, Zouma, Forson, Potts
Scorers: Lanzini (24 pen)
Booked: Coventry, Scamacca, Soucek
Manager: David Moyes 7
Silkeborg: Larsen, Ostrom, Salquist, Felix, Klitten, Thordarson, Gojani (Oggesen 46),Klynge (Kaalund 69), Tengstedt (Lind 84), Jorgensen (Kusk 46), Helenius (Adamsen 68)
Subs Not Used: Mattsson, Hedvall, Anders Dahl, Calisir, Engel, Andresen, Busch
Booked: Klitten
Ref: Joni Hyytia (Finland)
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